This is a guest article by Peter Lee. If you want to submit a guest article of your own be sure to read the guest article guidelines.
The simple truth is, your content may very well be the next best since sliced bread, but if you don’t have a strong headline that will get the readers to click on it and read the rest, you don’t really have anything. Yes, you have the finished article into which you have put your heart and soul, but if the end result is almost exactly the same as not having written anything at all, what’s the difference?
Now, this number varies from place to place, but on average, about 80% of the people will only read the headline, while the rest will take their time and read the actual content behind it. That is why a headline to your article is like a window to your shop. You don’t just want people to take a look at it and keep on walking. You want them to stop, peer through the glass to see what’s inside, and ultimately, come inside the store.
First of all, imagine your shop is on street next to all the other stores. Why should the customer choose yours? More importantly, what should you do to stand out? Well, having a different window is a good place to start. It’s exactly the same with your headline.
That is a tall order, for just one sentence, so maybe you should check out this great post on how to make your writing more concise.
One day, the first tailor decided to put up a sign saying “The best tailor in the world”. So, the people flocked to his store. But, it wasn’t long before the second tailor came up with a similar idea and put up a sign saying “The best tailor in the city”. People then started coming to his store.
The third tailor thought long and hard, and then he put up a sign saying “The best tailor in the street”. This example wonderfully illustrates the importance of having a really specific headline. For instance, let’s analyze a possible headline “7 Amazing Hacks to Make Your Life Better”. It start off well, but then it tries to cover too much ground. Try and focus on the specific benefit for the reader.
For example, a headline “Are You Sick and Tired of People Not Clicking on Your Headlines?” would probably have lots of people clicking on it, because it indicates a solution to a specific problem that can be solved quickly.
You also have a specific benefit of being the smartest person in the room, which is something that everyone wants. Now, creating the content to go along with that headline is hard, but that’s a topic for another article.
Writing brilliant and click-worthy headlines is not rocket science, but it does require a delicate touch and some creativity. First and foremost, vague statements won’t get you very far.
Your headline should advertise the content inside the article as valuable and as a possible solution to a problem. Once you have value and specifics covered, you can build on that by making it original and more urgent, if there is room for it. That’s all there is to it!
Peter Lee is a former Berkeley student. He is currently writing for essays.scholaradvisor.com writing company. Peter’s main expertise is formal advice on writing productivity.
This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest…
This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest…
This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest…
This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest…
This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest…
This is a guest article by Indiana Lee. If you want to submit a guest…
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Dear Peter Lee,
After going through this piece of work, i had definitely noticed the value of creating great headlines for every piece of work, that you would want people to read. Catching and drawing attention of readers requires a great deal of thinking and creativity. I love reading nobles, poems and other crafts of work. However, i do tweets and comments on politics, that's part of my hobbies among others! But Ooh! I am an economics graduate, who also loves people like you, with such educational and insightful asset. I love your work! I am saying all these because, i know one day, i would be sitting down to think and write, even in my field of career. Cheers!